SchoolDesk Articles

This is the SchoolDesk blog/articles section where we'll periodically be posting useful information for all of the teachers, parents, staff and students who use SchoolDesk websites. We hope you all find this information useful and even pass it on to others who can benefit from it as well.

Website accessibility compliance on all SchoolDesk websites is handled via our unique and proprietary Accessibility Compliance Engine or A.C.E., which ensures that our websites are fully compatible for disabled or challenged users of any school websites ( meeting all WCAG 2.0, ADA Section 508, A, AA, and even AAA guidelines). ACE was exclusively developed by SchoolDesk, trademarked on 2017, and is currently patent pending for its uniqueness in overall functionality.

When users first arrive at a SchoolDesk website, they have the option of selecting the ADA version of the site or viewing it in its fully graphical format (the default view). The ADA version removes most standard website styling, colors, fonts and other items that are difficult for disabled users to view.A fully-styled version is available for those who do not require any specialized reading or viewing requirements. Users may switch between the two formats quickly at any time by using a single click or keystroke.

Compatibility for disabled or challenged users

We want our platform to be accessible for students, teachers, and community members of all abilities. While no one can guarantee 100% compliance at all times this function remains updated with the ADA compliance requirement, and is currently under development to bring additional features and enhancements in the very near future.

How Does A.C.E. Work?

The system adjusts for small fonts, large fonts, high contrast, or screen-reader devices. The program automatically converts the form of your website with just a single click or keystroke. Users can also switch back to the fully-styled version of the site with only a single click.

At the top of every SchoolDesk website is an "ADA Bar" that the user controls to instantly convert the entire fully-styled site into a format that is completely ADA and screen-reader compliant. Designed so users with any disability can easily read your website the same as users who require no alteration. The type of content entered by the site administrator does not matter because A.C.E. instantly removes all non-compliant code and styling.

The WCAG 2.0 Standards

WCAG uses four primary principles in compliance. The list is directly from W3C and WAI.

Better known as POUR which stands for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Perceivable

· Provide text alternatives for non-text content.

· Provide captions and other alternatives for multimedia.

· Create content in different ways,

· including by assistive technologies, without losing meaning.

· Make it easier for users to see and hear content.

Operable

· Make all functionality available from a keyboard.

· Give users enough time to read and use the content.

· Do not use content that causes seizures.

· Help users navigate and find content.

Understandable

· Make text readable and understandable.

· Make content appear and operate in predictable ways.

· Help users avoid and correct mistakes.

Robust

· Maximize compatibility with current and future user tools.

The principles, guidelines and success criteria in WCAG stay fixed, but techniques are periodically updated. SchoolDesk A.C.E. system will be continually updated to meet with future guideline changes as they are made public.

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